UMUR "Independent" is the 3rd full-length studio album by US, Arizona based thrash metal act Sacred Reich. The album was released through Hollywood Records in February 1993. It´s the successor to "The American Way" from 1990, which was a fairly successful release for the band. The promotional video for the title track received quite a few rotations on the then popular heavy metal tv-show MTVs Headbangers Ball. There´s been one lineup change since the predecessor as drummer Greg Hall has been replaced by Dave McClain.

Stylistically "Independent" is a bit less thrashy and features more traditional and groove oriented metal elements than "The American Way (1990)". It´s obvious the band have had great focus on writing catchy material, and some of the tracks are as a result pretty simple in structure and also only feature very few riffs throughout the track. An example is the opening title track which is an almost painfully simple track featuring very few riff progressions. The trick here is that it works though and in the case of the title track we are therefore treated to quite a powerful and catchy heavy metal track. The simplicity of the songwriting is not always as successful as on the title track though, and some tracks appear formulaic.

Highlights are to my ears the title track, the heavy and mid-paced "Just Like That" and "Crawling" (crushing riffs and rhythms on this one), the beautiful acoustic guitar track "If Only", and the power ballad "I Never Said Goodbye". The latter is an emotional track about the loss of a loved one, and while vocalist/bassist Phil Rind isn´t exactly the best singer in the world (he struggles to hit the notes clean a couple of times), he still manages to get the message across in a convincing manner. Seldom have I heard somthing sung this ugly but with as great impact as Rind´s vocal performance on "I Never Said Goodbye". The rest of the material ranges from good to unremarkable.

"Independent" features a fat and heavy production job, which suits the material perfectly. The musicianship is also on a high level on all posts, and although Rind´s voice and vocal style is probably very much an aquired taste, I can´t help find it incredibly charming. Think the Jeff Bridges of heavy metal, and you´ve got a good idea of how he sounds. Upon conclusion "Independent" is a good quality release, which doesn´t quite reach the excellence of its direct predecessor but still features quite a few standout tracks and a 3.5 star (70%) rating is fully deserved.

Kingcrimsonprog Phoenix Arizona’s Sacred Reich released their third full-length studio album in 1993, entitled Independent. The album followed up the classic The American Way record and musically saw the band incorporate a few new ideas into their overall sound.

The band were never the biggest Thrash band out there, but their solid crossover style is influential to many of the new millennium’s Thrash Bands. The band have a punky hardcore influenced feel on some tracks in a similar fashion to many of the East Coast Thrash bands, with whom they share more musical similarities than with the German, Canadian or Bay Area Thrash artists.

Independent saw the band play with more slow and mid tempo elements than on previous releases, incorporating some groove metal influences as happened with much of the 1990s output by Thrash Metal bands. It is a little underrated as an album, as fans were quick to abandon ship at the first sight of slow guitars but is actually quite a good album when given a fair chance. If you are willing to keep an open mind there is a lot to enjoy on this record.

Highlights on Independent include the beyond catchy Title Track which is an absolute classic and highlight of any concert, as well as ‘Supremacy,’ ‘Free,’ and the almost eight minute long ‘I Never Said Goodbye.’

This was their first full length Drummer Dave McClain, who would of course go on to join Machine Head and puts down a characteristically strong performance on this album, with his unusual and distinctive style of fills and approach to the double kicks.

The production from Dave Jerden (famous for Alice In Chain’s The Dirt and Anthrax’s Sound Of White Noise) is solid with a good mix and general sound. The lyrics too are strong, and of course are socially aware and politically motivated as usual from Sacred Reich. Overall all the individual aspects of the album are good, the only real thing holding it off of a classic album status is the indefinable x factor that makes some albums amazing but can’t be quantified or often, even replicated.

In summary, Independent is a good album and Sacred Reich fans should find a lot to enjoy on it should the be willing to keep an open mind.